Hi, Charlie, Good question. So many times, terms aren't defined. If you get these mounted plants, you've still got options, if they don't suit your style. I love lots of the plants people seem to sell mostly - or only - mounted, the Haraella being one. It bloomed fine, hanging out with other mounties in one of the clear glass vases, about 8"x 8" each, with stones and a bit of water in the bottom. It's the one on the left: However, it was one of almost 20 mounties that needed misting/soaking daily. If I weren't such an underwaterer, it'd be multiple times: They're always dry 24 hours later, inside or outside, unless it's raining or super humid and cloudy out. When the mounties are in the house, most are taken from vases and sprayed over a big pot, one at a time, then put back. The mounties that don't fit in a big vase are taken to the shower, sprayed, left to drip for awhile, and then taken back to the orchid room. Outside, each is moved and watered separately. Every.Single.Day ... whether I'm tired, down with a bug, out late, have a sick pet, family member in the hospital, buddy in a jam. With the potted orchids, I can close the shades, turn off the lights, and leave them for at least 7 days, if need be. I started resenting the mounties. One of the old hands who used to post here said no orchid had to be mounted. Dunno if they were excluding the Ghost, but I've unmounted almost all the mounties now, including the Haraella, Aerangis fastuosa, Aerangis biloba, Dendrobium ceraula, Dinema polybulbon, Encyclia bracteata, Leptotes bicolor, Ornithocephalus bicornis, Phal. lowii, and Phal. parishii. Others, the grower unmounted and potted before I brought them home. Almost all the Sedireas I've seen were potted. As many mounties as possible have gone into sphag & plastic because they dry more slowly; 2nd preference is bark w/ sphag; last is straight bark. The plants in straight bark have to be watered every other day. It's a relief to be free of the every-day-or-else demands. It's been a month since the Haraella went from mounted to potted in sphag. It could be too soon to know if it'll be okay, but it didn't lose either of the 2 flowers, and buds on all 3 spikes are still developing. You'll figure out what works for you - the orchids will teach you. :) Whitecat8

I guess I just think of places like PA and NJ, and how they are farther south, and yet still zone 6. But admittedly I always forget to think of proximity to the water, and that would change things, so being on the island would make a difference. I googled, though, and found this. Who knows? I think you can find three different maps with three different results, lol. Not trying to be argumentative with anyone. I was just really somewhat taken aback when I saw Brooklyn zone 7. Sounds so tropical, lol. :) Dee P.S. Also interesting to see Suffolk county being zone 6. Must be elevation, I guess, but it is funny to me to see the north shore as zone 7 and the middle of the island as zone 6! Here is a link that might be useful: Cornell NY hardiness map

I use a brass screw hook . I mounted it just outside the edge of the window frame (because there's wood behind that spot holding the window in, so it's not going into drywall). I pre-drilled a hole with a drill bit smaller than the screw diameter, then just gently twisted it in. It holds the tassel just fine (and mine are large).

I see an issue (dilemma?). I wouldn't plant it out w/o bare-rooting to provide the opportunity to correct the root issues you'll inevitably find. Given that buds are breaking, that should be done immediately, like tomorrow; however, where the tree is now in terms of the spring push means it has lost most of it's cold-hardiness, so freezing temperatures could kill new leaves. Do you have a way to provide protection from freezing temps? Do you know when your "last frost" date is? On one hand, I'd want to give the roots the once-over immediately so I'd be comfortable putting it in the ground, but on the other, I wouldn't do that if it meant the tree was going to face freezing temps. Are there any J-maples in the surrounding landscape now that are pushing the spring flush of new growth? BTW - it won't need watering daily. Al